." >> that 2011 alec conference, lo and behold, was sponsored by bp, exxon mobil, chevron, and shell, among others. another of its events featured guns. >> and this is the nra sponsored shooting event for legislators and for lobbyists -- free. >> there was even one offering free cigars. >> sponsored by reynolds american which is one of the biggest tobacco companies in the world and the cigar association of america. >> it sounds like lobbying. it looks like lobbying. it smells like lobbying. but alec says it's not lobbying. in fact, alec operates not as a lobby group, but as a non-profit, a charity. in its filing with the irs, alec says its mission is education which means it pays no taxes and its corporate members get a tax write-off. its legistors get a lot too. >> in wisconsin, i can't take anything of value from a lobbyist. i can't take a cup of coffee from a lobbyist. at alec, it's just the opposite. you know, you get there and you're being wined and dined by corporate interests, i can go down there, and be wined and dined for days in order to hear about their special legislation.